Avoid BIOS 1.03 for the 2020 Stealth (RZ09-03102) | Razer Insider

Avoid BIOS 1.03 for the 2020 Stealth (RZ09-03102)

L
Updating to this bios will remove the ability for the CPU to turbo boost in Windows 10. I've done several clean installs from W19 1909 to 20H2, and the issue persists across all 3 major W10 versions.

I'll pay a bounty if anyone can get me a backup of their bios from their 2020 Stealth on an older bios version.

Thanks!
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84 Replies

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Userlevel 6
Ka0mN
Has no one checked if undervolting works on 1.04?


I don't own the early 2020 model but I know that the Tiger Lake model has it disabled. Intel has pushed to disable undervolting on all of its newer chips in order to solve a security exploit. Except for a few manufacturers who re-enabled it for Ice Lake, I think it might be gone for good.
Blade Stealth: The 2020 Blade Stealth Bible (Optimization and Troubleshooting Guide) The 2019 Blade Stealth Bible 2017 Blade 14: Razer Blade 14 Optimization Guide (Undervolting CPU & GPU) Blade 14 Temperatues: Open vs. Closed
Ka0mN
Has no one checked if undervolting works on 1.04?
Ka0mN
Has any tested if undervolting with Throttlestop still works on 1.04 or is it locked?
M
The BIOS update is now up on the website:

http://drivers.razersupport.com//index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view&parentcategoryid=990&pcid=350&nav=0,350
M
Sorry have not had time to sit down in the last couple of days and try to retest this. I will see if i can this weekend. On another note I was able to update to 20H2 this morning! I was thinking that I was locked out of the new Windows update due to Intel Firmware being rolled up into the BIOS but that was not the case. Think it had to do with their bug in Thunderbolt and SSD drives which looks like it was fixed on their end. So that is good you should now be able to update past 1909 now. Has been running smooth on 20H2 all day so that is good!
Z
Thanks @m_bliss11 , I can absolutely tell you I did run the laptop for more than a days worth of work, unfortunately I do not have proof of the CPU frequency.

Try checking the CPU multiplier with hwinfo and check how low it drops. It should be reaching close to or at x4. In addition, actually run your laptop with battery alone for a few cycles to see how long it last. No watching videos and assuming you only have Onedrive sync running with no other dudas apps running. Then open command prompt and run `powercfg /batteryreport` and check your home folder for the HTML report. This shows a very hard linear battery burn.

M
zombee411 - I set my system to those power levels and checked the idle frequencies and on 1.02 they hover around the 1ghz like you mentioned. I never saw it dip lower than .9ghz. Could the 400mhz that you remember have been on 1.03?
M
I am on 1.02 now and will do some tests tonight to confirm idle levels on those power settings.
Z
Thanks for the reply, I remember it was mentioned but with version 1.03. I would have imagined the engineering team would have tried their best to restore 1.04 to a 1.02 glory, instead of focusing so hard to restore the Turbo issue. Does that mean we need to make a new thread regarding 1.04 C states? If that's the case, then lets close up this Turbo thread and start a new one so we don't muck this one up. I already reported this to Support back on the 1.04 release, but they did not make a ticket for it.
Razer.Caziel
Userlevel 7
zombee411
I've wasted some time thoroughly evaluating 1.04 and I had a feeling they would break something else before fixing what they originally broke. I'm so over spending so much energy on this, I wish we could just go back to 1.02.

Setting display to 60Hz, Windows Power Saving powerplan, Razer Power saver profile, 10% display brightness, 40% keyboard, and simple email and web browsing, the laptop use to last 10+ hours. I can barely reach 6 hours now.

I've noticed the CPU idles at or above 1GHz, and never drops lower like I remember it use to. This CPU is capable of 400MHz and I'm pretty sure that's what it was doing before. I wonder if they made the throttling more aggressive instead of conservative.


This has been reported to the team that worked on the BIOS. My best guess is that this has got something to do with the C States, as previously mentioned by @Aria-x1.
Z
I've wasted some time thoroughly evaluating 1.04 and I had a feeling they would break something else before fixing what they originally broke. I'm so over spending so much energy on this, I wish we could just go back to 1.02.

Setting display to 60Hz, Windows Power Saving powerplan, Razer Power saver profile, 10% display brightness, 40% keyboard, and simple email and web browsing, the laptop use to last 10+ hours. I can barely reach 6 hours now.

I've noticed the CPU idles at or above 1GHz, and never drops lower like I remember it use to. This CPU is capable of 400MHz and I'm pretty sure that's what it was doing before. I wonder if they made the throttling more aggressive instead of conservative.
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R3DH3R0
The problem I do have is when I reinstalled windows this time a bunch of drivers didn't pull down. I reinstalled when I downloaded 1.03 and all the drivers pulled down and some software like the Razer Dolby program. Now I'm missing a bunch of drivers and programs which I can't find anywhere to download. Thanks.

I think if you live call or chat support they can provide you a recovery image.
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Razer.Caziel
I'm relieved to hear that, and I hope the problem went away for good this time around. That said, don't hesitate to ping me should you need further assistance.


The problem I do have is when I reinstalled windows this time a bunch of drivers didn't pull down. I reinstalled when I downloaded 1.03 and all the drivers pulled down and some software like the Razer Dolby program. Now I'm missing a bunch of drivers and programs which I can't find anywhere to download. Thanks.
Razer.Caziel
Userlevel 7
R3DH3R0
Ok so I just did a clean install from an iso, with nothing installed and idle my cpu usage is 0-2%. I installed geekbench and was pulling higher numbers than previously. My turbo boost also isn't stuck, right now the computer is running between 1.45-1.56ghz. Now to see what program was causing the issue. Or perhaps it was my windows install

I'm relieved to hear that, and I hope the problem went away for good this time around. That said, don't hesitate to ping me should you need further assistance.
R
Ok so I just did a clean install from an iso, with nothing installed and idle my cpu usage is 0-2%. I installed geekbench and was pulling higher numbers than previously. My turbo boost also isn't stuck, right now the computer is running between 1.45-1.56ghz. Now to see what program was causing the issue. Or perhaps it was my windows install
R
Just received 1.04 and I can confirm cpu clock speeds are once again back to normal.
I have not had the issue where system idle process spikes. When my system is just sitting, cpu speed drops as expected and when cpu intensive tasks kick off (in my current example game streaming) it Turbos as expected.
Razor Synapse profile set to Balanced and fan to Auto.
For me, BIOS 1.04 has been stable (albeit only used for a few hours nonstop) but after suffering a few weeks with 1.03 its good to be back to "normal" on this system and being able to game again.

Working with support has not yielded anything after 2 weeks, so all credit for me back up and running goes to @Razer.Caziel ! Thank you again.
F
R3DH3R0
Let me know of it works for you. Maybe something screwed up on my install.

Ok I am still waiting for the download link provided to me by the official. If I install it successfully, I will reply to your message and tell you the feedback I used.
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Fordringwang
Thank you for your reply. I also want to returning the machine. I can not returning the machine it because of national and regional policies. I hope that the 1.04 version given to me by the official can solve the slow running problem. I also love this computer very much.


Let me know of it works for you. Maybe something screwed up on my install.
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R3DH3R0
No. I mean turbo boost works again, but something is running to keep it from turning off. At least in my case, if anyone else has 1.04 and can say differently, please chime in. Like I said, I was watching netflix on battery and it drained from 100 to 80% in 30 min. I had nothing else open, keyboard lights off, and even disabled the dGPU. When I went into the bios and disabled turbo mode, I got an 8-10% drain in an hour, which is a huge difference.

I'm just getting frustrated, I love the machine, but I don't want to keep being the guinea pig for this. That's why I'm may swap it.


Thank you for your reply. I also want to returning the machine. I can not returning the machine it because of national and regional policies. I hope that the 1.04 version given to me by the official can solve the slow running problem. I also love this computer very much.
R
Fordringwang
My computer has also been updated to 1.03 become slow. Do you still feel that it is not as good as 1.02 after updating to 1.04? I'm currently request official for the 1.04 download link.


No. I mean turbo boost works again, but something is running to keep it from turning off. At least in my case, if anyone else has 1.04 and can say differently, please chime in. Like I said, I was watching netflix on battery and it drained from 100 to 80% in 30 min. I had nothing else open, keyboard lights off, and even disabled the dGPU. When I went into the bios and disabled turbo mode, I got an 8-10% drain in an hour, which is a huge difference.

I'm just getting frustrated, I love the machine, but I don't want to keep being the guinea pig for this. That's why I'm may swap it.
F
R3DH3R0
Everything is on balanced, even in the power settings.

System idle process is making the cpu spike.

My computer has also been updated to 1.03 become slow. Do you still feel that it is not as good as 1.02 after updating to 1.04? I'm currently request official for the 1.04 download link.
R
m_bliss11
Was this also with your windows and synapse power settings set to balanced? If those are set to best performance or game mode your will definitely have battery drain issues because it will run at highest clock settings all the time.

Can you open your task manager and see what service is spiking your utilization with turbo boost on?


Everything is on balanced, even in the power settings.

System idle process is making the cpu spike.
M
Was this also with your windows and synapse power settings set to balanced? If those are set to best performance or game mode your will definitely have battery drain issues because it will run at highest clock settings all the time.

Can you open your task manager and see what service is spiking your utilization with turbo boost on?
R
m_bliss11
R3DH3R0 - out of curiosity did the new bios update also include an intel firmware update? What process is taking making your system utilization high?


I don't believe so. I turned off turbo boost because I need to be portable and the cpu usage was killing my battery. I lost 20% in 30 min. With turbo boost off my idle cpu usage is around 4-5%. With it on it would be 12-20% with spikes up to 30%, and that's just idle. I'm thinking about returning the machine to best buy and picking up one with the bios 1.02 and not touching it. None have any stock near me, but I called them and they have them in the warehouse.
M
R3DH3R0 - out of curiosity did the new bios update also include an intel firmware update? What process is taking making your system utilization high?
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